Slippery Elm, Sweet Elm, Ulmus fulva, Ulmus rubra
A pleasant tasting way to settle an acidic or irritated stomach, aid constipation, and diarrhoea, and to reduce symptoms of GORD, reflux, and stomach cramps. It’s also a helpful hack before consuming alcohol, as it helps line the intestines, reducing irritation and subsequent symptoms.
Slippery Elm bark powder is a traditional ‘mucilaginous’ remedy, which has a soothing effect on the digestive system and may help to soothe an irritated or unsettled stomach and gastrointestinal tract. Mucilage is a complex mixture of polysaccharides extracted as viscous or gelatinous fibre.
Slippery Elm is considered a bulk laxative as the mucilage absorbs water. The result of this is that it swells in the intestine, helping to initiate a bowel movement. It is important to drink plenty of water, especially if using it for this effect. Slippery Elm bark can also be used as a soothing demulcent to the digestive tract and can relieve both constipation and diarrhoea.
The slippery elm is a medium-sized tree native to North America. For medicinal purposes, the inner bark is dried and powdered.
